LETTER: Progress on animal control has been allowed to stagnate

County Mayor Bowers says Animal Control Director Tim Clifton has reduced euthanasia by 25 percent over last year. Not so fast. We should also ask: How many pets killed were healthy adoptable ones? How does that compare to a shelter's intake, increased or decreased?

If a shelter director can increase intake and still adopt out the majority of healthy adoptable cats and dogs taken in, that's an accomplishment. Unfortunately, that's not the case here. Based on published reports, in fiscal year 2012 total dog/cat intake of 4,446 is less than every fiscal year from 2008 (6,247) to 2011 (4,866). Intake just by officers in 2012 (1,348) was also down from every previous year from 2008 (2,164) to 2011 (1,817).

Officials and committee members, past and present, don't seem to understand what comprises an effective animal control operation. Animal control director positions are professional employment. It is an insult to this community, particularly taxpayers, to pay a $60,000 department head salary to someone with absolutely no background in animal care and control, sheltering or animal welfare.

By now, Animal Control should have a large volunteer corps, which would free officers to investigate complaints, follow up on warnings and citations and educate the public. The director should have completed a list of objectives, including: reducing euthanasia while increasing intake; public outreach and education; cultivating responsible animal welfare groups; applying for spay/neuter and facility improvement grants; and using the ASPCA transport program to take adoptable dogs to places where they are in demand.

An experienced director would be able to publish accurate reports on intake numbers by dog/cat; live release by species and reason (adoption, transfer, return to owner); euthanasia numbers by species; statistics on numbers of adoptable and unadoptable animals; complaints by type and results; and a log of public contact. These statistics should be used in plans to improve operations and services.

It's been almost 15 years since then-Commissioner Brenda Radford and her committee wrenched the county's animal control out of the pit of dated and inhumane practices and began implementing modern standards. This process has stagnated. We're way overdue a permanent stance in 21st century animal care and control.

Elaine Weil

Clarksville 37043

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

LETTER: Progress on animal control has been allowed to stagnate

County Mayor Bowers says Animal Control Director Tim Clifton has reduced euthanasia by 25 percent over last year. Not so fast.